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Bonanza: The Return

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Bonanza: The Return
Theatrical release poster
GenreWestern
Based onBonanza
by David Dortort
Teleplay byMichael McGreevey
Story by
  • Michael Landon Jr.
  • Michael McGreevey
  • Tom Brinson
Directed byJerry Jameson
Starring
Music byBruce Miller
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producers
  • David Dortort
  • Tom Sarnoff
ProducerKent McCray
Production locations
  • San Andreas, California
  • Tahoe Meadows, Lake Tahoe, California
  • Warner Ranch, Calabasas, California
  • Sierra Railroad, Jamestown, California
  • Ponderosa Ranch - 100 Ponderosa Ranch Road, Incline Village, Lake Tahoe, Nevada
  • Ponderosa Wagon Camp, Incline Village, Lake Tahoe, California
CinematographyHaskell B. Boggs
EditorJohn Loeffler
Running time93 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkNBC
ReleaseNovember 28, 1993 (1993-11-28)
Related

Bonanza: The Return is a 1993 American Western made-for-television film. It is a sequel to both the 1959–1973 television series Bonanza and the 1988 made-for-television film Bonanza: The Next Generation. The film was directed by Jerry Jameson[1] and featured noted character actors Ben Johnson, Jack Elam, Dean Stockwell, Linda Gray, and Richard Roundtree.

Production

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None of the characters from the original series appears since the entire cast, with the exception of Pernell Roberts and David Canary, were dead. Michael Landon Jr. and Dirk Blocker, sons of the original series's stars, do appear, although Blocker, who looked and sounded almost exactly like his father, was cast in a different, smaller role but his face and voice were featured prominently in the commercials advertising the film. Bonanza: The Return was followed two years later with the TV-movie Bonanza: Under Attack. David Canary, who portrayed Candy Canaday on the original series, was not involved with either TV-movie.

Plot

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The setting is The Ponderosa in the year 1905. Augustus Brandenburg (Dean Stockwell), a land baron, attempts to take the Ponderosa first by legal, and then by illegal means, in order to strip the land of its natural resources. The story includes several flashbacks to the original series.

Partial cast

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Reception

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Variety said, "Barring a big-screen version, it may be time to let the Cartwrights ride off into the sunset."[2]

References

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  1. ^ "Bonanza: The Return". TCM database. Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  2. ^ Lowry, Brian (November 24, 1993). "Bonanza: The Return". Variety. Retrieved September 7, 2022.
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